Like most everyone these days, I am on a number of mailing lists and like most everyone, I am selective about which emails I actually open. One of those mailing lists is that my neighbor, my friend, national recording artist, Julie Clark. Julie's email informed friends and fans that she was in the running to be a performer at Lillith Fair in DC, and asked that people go to her website for instructions on how to vote for her.
When I went to her website, I noticed she was performing at The Waterside Listening Room. This evening as part of the Tidewater Arts Outreach Program, a collaborative effort between artists, venues and volunteers to raise money to benefit those who might otherwise not enjoy the enrichment that comes from the artistic experience.
From their website:
The mission of Tidewater Arts Outreach is to uplift the human spirit by bringing live, quality music and arts experiences to people in Hampton Roads who are in homes, hospitals, shelters, facilities and dependent care programs or otherwise are isolated from society.
Music and arts programs can be beneficial in many ways:
* They enrich the soul, stimulate the mind and promote wellness through the healing power of music and the arts
* They provide opportunities for self-expression and self-realization through participation in music and arts activities
* They create a sense of community and a source of inspiration for our artists by providing them with opportunities to share their talents
* They provide opportunities for other volunteers to contribute a variety of skills and resources that support our humanitarian services and increase the impact of donor contributions.
In carrying out this mission, we seek to create a social awareness in the Hampton Roads communities of people who are isolated from society.
I arrived at the Listening Room to see nearly a standing-room-only crowd. When the host introduced Julie, he said that it was the largest crowd the Listening Room has ever had.
Julie was met with rousing applause and opened her set with the familiar Think Too Much, after which I'd Rather, Dangerous and many other crowd favorites.
In the clip below, you can hear her perform Jacket, the song for which she was awarded the Grand Prize at the 26th Annual Mid-Atlantic Song Contest, sponsored by the Songwriters' Association of Washington.
Julie sings music from the heart. Each song tells a story; a memory, a hope, a glimpse into her life. Her support of the Tidewater Arts Outreach comes as no surprise. Although she has a very busy national performing schedule, she always finds time to lend her time and talent to the Hampton Roads Community. To learn more about Julie and see her performance schedule, visit her website at www.julieclark.net.
Update! Julie's upcoming local performances:- Friday 6/25/10: Suffolk, VA.Muse 8-11pm. 5860 Harbour View Blvd. Muse is a unique new bistro, located in Harbor View, next to Harbor View Grande 16 Cinemas. They serve tasty fusion fare, including award-winning culinary creations from Shannon Puglisse. No cover charge for this show. Tel: (757) 394-1470. Tamra Gobert will be joining me on percussion and Katie Duckett will be singing harmony and playing bass guitar. This is a new venue for us. We hope to fill the place with music and friends, so please come out if you can!-
Saturday 6/26/10: Norfolk, VA.Music on Monarch Way5-7 pm.
I'm delighted to be kicking off this music series with Larry Berwald on
electric, slide and bass guitars, Tamra Gobert on percussion and Katie
Duckett singing harmony and playing bass as well. These free concerts
are on the lawn on Monarch Way directly across the street from OldDominionUniversity and behind the TedConstantConvocationCenter. There’s no charge for this concert, or for parking. Just bring a blanket and your friends and family.- Sunday 7/25/10: Norfolk, VASarapalooza at 37th & Zen2-8 pm. This is a benefit show to raise funds for our good friend Sarah Jones who's battling breast cancer.I'll
be one of the performers for this full day of music, along with MSG,
Jen Kravassi, Nance Schwegler, Courtney Criswell (lead singer of LuckyTown) and more. My set is scheduled for approximately 4:30-6pm. This venue has a terrific stage and a delicious menu with lots of variety. $20 cover charge - please come out and be part of this special benefit show. Sarah needs us now! 1083 W.37th Street & Hampton Blvd. Tel: (757) 533-5151.To learn more about Tidewater Arts Outreach, check out their website at http://www.twartsoutreach.org. Upcoming shows include:
June 6th Waterside Listening Room – The Jae Sinnett Trio June 13th Waterside Listening Room – Mercy Creek w/special guest, Skye Zentz June 20th Waterside Listening Room – Father's Day Special w/Lewis McGehee June 26, 2010 House Concert hosted by Rick Mapp III Joe Mapp, lead guitar; Mick Vaughn, bass; Carson Huggins, guitar and drums; Joe McGlohjan, sax; Robert "Muskrat" Earnes, peddle steel June 27th Waterside Listening Room – Boogaloo Party w/Bobbie Blackhat Walters
On Saturday, a sea of white atop the Ocean View fishing pier greeted guests as they came, also dressed in white, to the first of the summer’s pier parties hosted by Mike Thomas and sponsored by LGBT Omni Media Group. People crammed into the top deck of the pier, turning out their pockets as they entered to donate and to buy raffle tickets whose proceeds were donated to the Norfolk-based charity Forkids, which was the center of the event.
The organization, founded over 20 years ago, worked initially to provide short-term shelter to homeless families. Now, the program has developed to include counseling, physical and mental health care service, transitional housing, and a children’s services program to help prevent those at risk of becoming homeless from being on the streets, and to help those who are already homeless reestablish their lives. Donations are always appreciated, but there are many ways to get involved, such as volunteering at one of the homes, in an office, or at one of their annual events. Those interested should go to homesforkids.org to learn more about the next volunteer orientation on June 22.
